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Division
New technology, new choices . . . but who gets to choose?
Conjoined twins Gordon and Johnny have never let their condition keep them from living full and fulfilling lives. Gordon looks forward to many years of closeness and cooperation. Johnny, however, faces their future with increasing restlessness, even dread.
When the boys are in their teens, the new technologies of accelerated human cloning and brain transplants are combined into a single medical procedure -- Transplant to Clone, or TTC. Someone whose body has suffered such extensive damage as to make normal life impossible may -- with court approval -- be cloned and then given a brain transplant into the clone body. With Gordon's unwitting assistance, Johnny realizes that the TTC procedure provides the chance he had never dared to hope for -- the chance to live in a "normal," separate body.
But Gordon considers their conjoined life a blessing, rather than a curse. He has no intention of accepting separation -- not without a fight . . . .
Division, like Wyle's earlier novels, uses original settings and situations to explore universal themes: the complexity and intensity of family relationships, the nature of individual identity, and the far-reaching effects of the choices we make.
Conjoined twins Gordon and Johnny have never let their condition keep them from living full and fulfilling lives. Gordon looks forward to many years of closeness and cooperation. Johnny, however, faces their future with increasing restlessness, even dread.
When the boys are in their teens, the new technologies of accelerated human cloning and brain transplants are combined into a single medical procedure -- Transplant to Clone, or TTC. Someone whose body has suffered such extensive damage as to make normal life impossible may -- with court approval -- be cloned and then given a brain transplant into the clone body. With Gordon's unwitting assistance, Johnny realizes that the TTC procedure provides the chance he had never dared to hope for -- the chance to live in a "normal," separate body.
But Gordon considers their conjoined life a blessing, rather than a curse. He has no intention of accepting separation -- not without a fight . . . .
Division, like Wyle's earlier novels, uses original settings and situations to explore universal themes: the complexity and intensity of family relationships, the nature of individual identity, and the far-reaching effects of the choices we make.
276 pages, ebook
First published October 29, 2013
2 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Karen A. Wyle
26 books232 followersKaren A. Wyle is the author of multiple science fiction novels, including The Twin-Bred Series: Books 1-3; YA novel Water to Water; and near-future novels Division, Playback Effect, Who: a novel of the near future, and Donation. Her first novel outside the SF category was the afterlife fantasy/family drama Wander Home. She then turned to historical romance with her Cowbird Creek series, including What Heals the Heart, What Frees the Heart, What Shows the Heart, and What Wakes the Heart. She returned to fantasy with 2023's Far From Mortal Realms: A Novel of Humans and Fae. Her novel The Decision/A Novel of Germany is inspired by a crucial incident in her own family history. Her latest novel, That The Dead May Rest, comes out on October 17, 2025 -- a good month for a paranormal story!
Wyle has also published one nonfiction work, Closest to the Fire: A Writer's Guide to Law and Lawyers, a resource for authors or for anyone interested in understanding more about American law. An updated and slightly retitled edition came out at the end of July 2021.
Finally, Wyle has collaborated with illustrators on five picture books: You Can't Kiss A Bubble; When It's Winter; Wind, Ocean, Grass; Where Fireflies Sleep; and A Boy Who Made Music/The Extraordinary Life of Joaquin Rodrigo. There are more to come!
Wyle was born a Connecticut Yankee, but eventually settled in Bloomington, Indiana, home of Indiana University. She now considers herself a Hoosier. Wyle's childhood ambition was to be the youngest ever published novelist. While writing her first novel at age ten, she was mortified to learn that some British upstart had beaten her to the goal at age nine.
Wyle is a retired appellate attorney, dormant photographer, and mother of two wildly creative adult offspring. Her voice is the product of almost five decades of reading both literary and genre fiction. It is no doubt also influenced, although she hopes not fatally tainted, by her years of law practice. Wyle's near-future novels and her upcoming fantasy novel draw on her legal experience in various respects.
Wyle's personal history has led her to focus on often-intertwined themes of family, communication, the impossibility of controlling events, and the persistence of unfinished business.
Wyle has also published one nonfiction work, Closest to the Fire: A Writer's Guide to Law and Lawyers, a resource for authors or for anyone interested in understanding more about American law. An updated and slightly retitled edition came out at the end of July 2021.
Finally, Wyle has collaborated with illustrators on five picture books: You Can't Kiss A Bubble; When It's Winter; Wind, Ocean, Grass; Where Fireflies Sleep; and A Boy Who Made Music/The Extraordinary Life of Joaquin Rodrigo. There are more to come!
Wyle was born a Connecticut Yankee, but eventually settled in Bloomington, Indiana, home of Indiana University. She now considers herself a Hoosier. Wyle's childhood ambition was to be the youngest ever published novelist. While writing her first novel at age ten, she was mortified to learn that some British upstart had beaten her to the goal at age nine.
Wyle is a retired appellate attorney, dormant photographer, and mother of two wildly creative adult offspring. Her voice is the product of almost five decades of reading both literary and genre fiction. It is no doubt also influenced, although she hopes not fatally tainted, by her years of law practice. Wyle's near-future novels and her upcoming fantasy novel draw on her legal experience in various respects.
Wyle's personal history has led her to focus on often-intertwined themes of family, communication, the impossibility of controlling events, and the persistence of unfinished business.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 23, 2013
Twins share many things, but Karen Wyle’s novel, Division, explores what happens when twins grow up sharing even more than most, including the same body. Gordon and Johnny are so close they cannot move apart, but so different that a lifetime of compromise can't keep them together. With different interests and different attitudes to life, they’ve lived as closely joined as two people can be and have learned to dream and cope. Meanwhile the girl next door has become their closest ally and friend. Their mother quietly supports and encourages. And adulthood looms large.
Particularly convincing is the small-town feel of a place where conjoined boys are just two guys in the graduating class, and tourists’ stares are a hazard of summer sun. But a near-future world is changing around these boys, offering possibilities previously unknown. They travel, go to court, argue, laugh, and seem so achingly real in their conflict that readers will genuinely wonder whose side to take. Is it more stubborn to change, or stay the same? Is it cruel to think of your own needs above your twin’s? Is it more honest to stay with the past, or to reach for future’s promise? And where will we, or our future selves, draw the line in moral debate?
The story’s as convincing in its court scenes as in the home, or on the road. The characters are just as human when they’re friends as when they’re foes. And the future world has no easier answers than the present day after all. But the questions will leave readers pondering possibilities and implications.
Beautifully researched and convincingly told, this novel reads like a present day drama with just a touch of the future—just enough to make us question the present more truly. I really enjoyed it.
Disclosure: The author kindly offered me a free ecopy because I’d enjoyed her work in the past.
Particularly convincing is the small-town feel of a place where conjoined boys are just two guys in the graduating class, and tourists’ stares are a hazard of summer sun. But a near-future world is changing around these boys, offering possibilities previously unknown. They travel, go to court, argue, laugh, and seem so achingly real in their conflict that readers will genuinely wonder whose side to take. Is it more stubborn to change, or stay the same? Is it cruel to think of your own needs above your twin’s? Is it more honest to stay with the past, or to reach for future’s promise? And where will we, or our future selves, draw the line in moral debate?
The story’s as convincing in its court scenes as in the home, or on the road. The characters are just as human when they’re friends as when they’re foes. And the future world has no easier answers than the present day after all. But the questions will leave readers pondering possibilities and implications.
Beautifully researched and convincingly told, this novel reads like a present day drama with just a touch of the future—just enough to make us question the present more truly. I really enjoyed it.
Disclosure: The author kindly offered me a free ecopy because I’d enjoyed her work in the past.
October 23, 2013
This is the fourth book I have read that was written by Karen A. Wyle, and it certainly did not disappoint. She has proven once again to be an exceptional writer. In Division, we enter the world of Gordon and Johnny, and we get a glimpse of what it would be like to live as conjoined twins. I kept trying to imagine how that would feel, and it seemed like an overwhelmingly difficult way to live. To never, ever be alone; that is too hard for most of us to fathom. Every movement you make and every decision you make will impact your twin and vice versa.
Division takes place in a future where a human can be cloned, the aging process can be accelerated, and then the brain can be transplanted into the clone's body. This is only permitted when a person's quality of life is severely limited due to an ailment or injury. The implications of this procedure (TTC - Transplant to Clone) could be the answer to Johnny and Gordon's problem--except only Johnny believes it is a problem, and Gordon is perfectly content living as a conjoined twin.
When Johnny decides to fight for this procedure in court, their relationship is irrevocably changed. It was really hard for me to pick sides; I could understand both points of view. I found myself leaning more towards Johnny, only because I could understand why he would want to live a more normal and independent life. But then I felt badly for Gordon, because even though living your life attached to someone else sounds awful, I realize that that was all he knew. That was how his entire life was so he couldn’t imagine living it any other way. And it didn’t seem fair that he should have to go through such a risky procedure when it wasn’t medically necessary.
I really got to know and care for the main characters, including their mother and their girlfriend, Dodi. It is a complex family drama that kept me hooked from beginning to end. Between the controversial cloning procedure and the psychological issues, this is a thought provoking, human interest story that you will not forget. Division is an excellent book worthy of five stars. Highly recommended.
Division takes place in a future where a human can be cloned, the aging process can be accelerated, and then the brain can be transplanted into the clone's body. This is only permitted when a person's quality of life is severely limited due to an ailment or injury. The implications of this procedure (TTC - Transplant to Clone) could be the answer to Johnny and Gordon's problem--except only Johnny believes it is a problem, and Gordon is perfectly content living as a conjoined twin.
When Johnny decides to fight for this procedure in court, their relationship is irrevocably changed. It was really hard for me to pick sides; I could understand both points of view. I found myself leaning more towards Johnny, only because I could understand why he would want to live a more normal and independent life. But then I felt badly for Gordon, because even though living your life attached to someone else sounds awful, I realize that that was all he knew. That was how his entire life was so he couldn’t imagine living it any other way. And it didn’t seem fair that he should have to go through such a risky procedure when it wasn’t medically necessary.
I really got to know and care for the main characters, including their mother and their girlfriend, Dodi. It is a complex family drama that kept me hooked from beginning to end. Between the controversial cloning procedure and the psychological issues, this is a thought provoking, human interest story that you will not forget. Division is an excellent book worthy of five stars. Highly recommended.
June 5, 2014
I don't really know what to say about Division. It left me intrigued, muddling through my own thoughts and a little excited for the possibilities the future holds for us.
It's complex, emotional, confronting and thought-provoking. It covers the journey of Johnny and Gordon, conjoined twins that share most of a body, each controlling one half. The story takes us through some of their early years and some of their teenaged years, but the bulk of the story revolves around them blooming into adulthood and the controversial medical procedure to allow them to be divided with full bodies of their own.
I grew to like Gordon throughout the book, I think I related more strongly to his personality and that meant I subconsciously, or perhaps consciously, chose to agree with his point of view. That doesn't mean that I didn't see the merits in how Johnny felt, but I was more invested in Gordon. This only highlighted to me the reality that twins, conjoined or not, are individual beings and are not carbon copies of each other, even if they look like it.
Dodi was an interesting character. I didn't feel I had a strong grasp on who she really was, all I took from her was her feelings for the twins. Which of course got more complicated as the story progressed, but I didn't connect with her.
Ellen, now she was a great character. The levels to her emotional state and the pains she took to keep the boys protected was truly Herculean. I loved how Frank, her partner and the boys' step father, was a contrasting character in most situations. He was the rock in most of their lives. It allowed for very real family dynamics. I liked that.
My biggest gripe would be to do with the way time progressed early in the book. I felt a little rushed through the opening scenes and the result of that was less emotional impact in the crucial scenes. The shocking scene that should have had me crying, didn't quite get there. I did come a fair bit closer at the softer, more emotional scenes after that one, but alas, still no tears.
This book will make you think. It will make you consider your own opinions on the controversial moral topics that are covered in this book. It is a science-fiction book, but it has just enough to seem really plausible, not fantastical. I loved how realistic the technology was. I can really see something like this in our future.
The writing, is really easy to read. It's complex enough to be suitable for adults, but also probably clear enough that young adults could read it and be fine.
A couple of things I noticed:
66% - But] her expression... (remove the [ ).
74% - hit Ellen's check (cheek)
**Note: I was provided an electronic copy of this book in return for an honest review**
It's complex, emotional, confronting and thought-provoking. It covers the journey of Johnny and Gordon, conjoined twins that share most of a body, each controlling one half. The story takes us through some of their early years and some of their teenaged years, but the bulk of the story revolves around them blooming into adulthood and the controversial medical procedure to allow them to be divided with full bodies of their own.
I grew to like Gordon throughout the book, I think I related more strongly to his personality and that meant I subconsciously, or perhaps consciously, chose to agree with his point of view. That doesn't mean that I didn't see the merits in how Johnny felt, but I was more invested in Gordon. This only highlighted to me the reality that twins, conjoined or not, are individual beings and are not carbon copies of each other, even if they look like it.
Dodi was an interesting character. I didn't feel I had a strong grasp on who she really was, all I took from her was her feelings for the twins. Which of course got more complicated as the story progressed, but I didn't connect with her.
Ellen, now she was a great character. The levels to her emotional state and the pains she took to keep the boys protected was truly Herculean. I loved how Frank, her partner and the boys' step father, was a contrasting character in most situations. He was the rock in most of their lives. It allowed for very real family dynamics. I liked that.
My biggest gripe would be to do with the way time progressed early in the book. I felt a little rushed through the opening scenes and the result of that was less emotional impact in the crucial scenes. The shocking scene that should have had me crying, didn't quite get there. I did come a fair bit closer at the softer, more emotional scenes after that one, but alas, still no tears.
This book will make you think. It will make you consider your own opinions on the controversial moral topics that are covered in this book. It is a science-fiction book, but it has just enough to seem really plausible, not fantastical. I loved how realistic the technology was. I can really see something like this in our future.
The writing, is really easy to read. It's complex enough to be suitable for adults, but also probably clear enough that young adults could read it and be fine.
A couple of things I noticed:
66% - But] her expression... (remove the [ ).
74% - hit Ellen's check (cheek)
**Note: I was provided an electronic copy of this book in return for an honest review**
January 11, 2014
This review is for the Kindle edition ebook.
Disclosure: I was given my copy of this book by the author as a review copy.
Can two individuals, joined together before birth, be two separate individuals?
Conjoined twins, raised as individuals, yet never being apart. Johnny would like to live a separate life now that it is possible. Gordon, on the other hand, believes him and Johnny can and will live together forever.
The author took the time to weave a delicate and sensitive story into a great novel. It is so much more than the idea that cloning could be acceptable at some time. It is much more than science fiction. It is the story of love and relationships between brothers. It is the story of the delicate threads that bind us together at times. It is also the story of fear and loathing that sometimes sneaks in to our relationships.
The author writes a very serious story with this book. She also writes a story of the love between brothers, and the battles that sometimes take place. This is a work of fiction, but who can say that it will not be a work of fact some day?
I have enjoyed every one of Karen A. Wyle's books that I have read. She writes with authority about subjects that are near to her own heart. I would recommend this book to adults and teens alike.
Disclosure: I was given my copy of this book by the author as a review copy.
Can two individuals, joined together before birth, be two separate individuals?
Conjoined twins, raised as individuals, yet never being apart. Johnny would like to live a separate life now that it is possible. Gordon, on the other hand, believes him and Johnny can and will live together forever.
The author took the time to weave a delicate and sensitive story into a great novel. It is so much more than the idea that cloning could be acceptable at some time. It is much more than science fiction. It is the story of love and relationships between brothers. It is the story of the delicate threads that bind us together at times. It is also the story of fear and loathing that sometimes sneaks in to our relationships.
The author writes a very serious story with this book. She also writes a story of the love between brothers, and the battles that sometimes take place. This is a work of fiction, but who can say that it will not be a work of fact some day?
I have enjoyed every one of Karen A. Wyle's books that I have read. She writes with authority about subjects that are near to her own heart. I would recommend this book to adults and teens alike.
July 25, 2014
Karen has a knack for taking a look at a moral situation, and trying to figure out the many different ways it can go. I know I kept trying to guess which way the story was going to go, just to have her take me on another turn. I look forward to reading more of Karen's books!
December 3, 2013
Karen A. Wyle’s DIVISION is the poignant coming-of-age story of conjoined twins, Gordon and Johnny Blake, who always expected to live their entire lives together. When a controversial medical procedure offers the chance for the two boys to live separate lives, Johnny is instantly intrigued. But Gordon resists, insisting that the life they were born with is the life they are meant to live. What happens to two conjoined twins when one of them wants an independent life of his own? DIVISION tells the complex and emotionally riveting story of the choice between connection and independence, between living for each other and living for one’s self.
Gordon and Johnny are actually dicephalic conjoined twins, meaning they are joined from the chest down into one being with two legs and two arms which they share – each of the boys controls one side of the body, meaning they must work together in tandem to do things (like walking and cracking pistachio nuts). Surgical separation is impossible, since they share one trunk and major organs. Wyle sets her story in an unspecified future where cloning becomes an option for the boys. The new medical procedure, called “Transplant to Clone” (or TTC), would allow human clones to be grown for both boys, allowing their brains to be transplanted into separate bodies. This is the option Johnny is determined to choose, even though Gordon is just as determined to remain connected to his brother.
What works in DIVISION are the two very different brothers, who are distinctly separate characters even though they are living in one body. Johnny is more sensitive than his brother, more focused on his feelings and his growing desire for an independent life. Gordon is satisfied with his conjoined existence, looking forward to college with his brother, and to a romance with Dodi, the girl both of them love. While Johnny imagines a time when he and Dodi could be intimate without Gordon’s presence, Gordon (and Dodi herself, actually) always sees them as a threesome.
I found both brothers to be interesting and believable characters, with valid arguments for the lives they hope to live. Johnny’s longing for a life independent of his brother is understandable, especially for those of us who can’t imagine being physically connected to another person. But Gordon’s horror at being abandoned by the one person with whom he has shared every second since birth is equally understandable. And I found myself more involved in Gordon’s nightmare after Johnny’s procedure separates them than I did in Johnny’s rather pedestrian attempts at living a “normal” life (travel, sexual experimentation, and over-indulgence in alcohol are initially very important to him).
What doesn’t work as well is the novel’s timeline. Things just seem to happen very, very quickly. There’s a court case, with Johnny trying to get legal approval to proceed with the operation (while Gordon tries to stop him), and within days of the decision the operation is underway. Wyle explains that the cloning procedure is able to rapidly age the clone from the cellular stage to an adult (or teenage) body in very short order, but even so the brain transplant itself seems to happen overnight, and Johnny is up and about in what seems like days. Gordon has a harder time, stuck in a hospital bed attached to the empty shell of his brother.
Additionally, Johnny’s very easy acceptance of his independent body and new life seems a bit difficult to accept. He doesn’t seem bothered at all by the absence of his brother, and aside from a few twinges of memory he seems just fine on his own. He also feels no need to visit Gordon, or to stay in contact with him. Gordon, on the other hand, is continually haunted by Johnny’s absence – but that makes sense, considering he’s still attached to the empty head that used to be his brother.
Finally, the sexual aspects of the novel are a bit difficult to absorb. Wyle isn’t shy about describing sexual activity between the brothers (there’s a masturbation scene that is creepy, to say the least) and their sexual fantasies about Dodi. Once Johnny is in his own body, the first thing he wants to do is have sex, and it doesn’t seem to matter with whom he’ll be having it. Dodi isn’t particularly well developed as a character, so it isn’t at all clear why she is attracted to these two boys, joined together as they are in one body. Until Johnny’s decision to separate himself from Gordon, she fully intends to marry the two of them. And even after the separation, there is a suggestion that the three of them can still form a life together. Again, it’s a bit hard to absorb.
DIVISION is a fascinating look at what it might be like to be forever physically connected to another human being. It’s also an engaging and poignant story about love and loss, and two brothers struggling to find a way to both live together and apart. The choices we make in life are always hard, and it’s even harder if the choices we make for ourselves also impact another person. This is a heartfelt story that truly touched me. I’m very glad I had the chance to read it.
[Please note: I was provided a copy of this novel for review; the opinions expressed here are my own.]
Gordon and Johnny are actually dicephalic conjoined twins, meaning they are joined from the chest down into one being with two legs and two arms which they share – each of the boys controls one side of the body, meaning they must work together in tandem to do things (like walking and cracking pistachio nuts). Surgical separation is impossible, since they share one trunk and major organs. Wyle sets her story in an unspecified future where cloning becomes an option for the boys. The new medical procedure, called “Transplant to Clone” (or TTC), would allow human clones to be grown for both boys, allowing their brains to be transplanted into separate bodies. This is the option Johnny is determined to choose, even though Gordon is just as determined to remain connected to his brother.
What works in DIVISION are the two very different brothers, who are distinctly separate characters even though they are living in one body. Johnny is more sensitive than his brother, more focused on his feelings and his growing desire for an independent life. Gordon is satisfied with his conjoined existence, looking forward to college with his brother, and to a romance with Dodi, the girl both of them love. While Johnny imagines a time when he and Dodi could be intimate without Gordon’s presence, Gordon (and Dodi herself, actually) always sees them as a threesome.
I found both brothers to be interesting and believable characters, with valid arguments for the lives they hope to live. Johnny’s longing for a life independent of his brother is understandable, especially for those of us who can’t imagine being physically connected to another person. But Gordon’s horror at being abandoned by the one person with whom he has shared every second since birth is equally understandable. And I found myself more involved in Gordon’s nightmare after Johnny’s procedure separates them than I did in Johnny’s rather pedestrian attempts at living a “normal” life (travel, sexual experimentation, and over-indulgence in alcohol are initially very important to him).
What doesn’t work as well is the novel’s timeline. Things just seem to happen very, very quickly. There’s a court case, with Johnny trying to get legal approval to proceed with the operation (while Gordon tries to stop him), and within days of the decision the operation is underway. Wyle explains that the cloning procedure is able to rapidly age the clone from the cellular stage to an adult (or teenage) body in very short order, but even so the brain transplant itself seems to happen overnight, and Johnny is up and about in what seems like days. Gordon has a harder time, stuck in a hospital bed attached to the empty shell of his brother.
Additionally, Johnny’s very easy acceptance of his independent body and new life seems a bit difficult to accept. He doesn’t seem bothered at all by the absence of his brother, and aside from a few twinges of memory he seems just fine on his own. He also feels no need to visit Gordon, or to stay in contact with him. Gordon, on the other hand, is continually haunted by Johnny’s absence – but that makes sense, considering he’s still attached to the empty head that used to be his brother.
Finally, the sexual aspects of the novel are a bit difficult to absorb. Wyle isn’t shy about describing sexual activity between the brothers (there’s a masturbation scene that is creepy, to say the least) and their sexual fantasies about Dodi. Once Johnny is in his own body, the first thing he wants to do is have sex, and it doesn’t seem to matter with whom he’ll be having it. Dodi isn’t particularly well developed as a character, so it isn’t at all clear why she is attracted to these two boys, joined together as they are in one body. Until Johnny’s decision to separate himself from Gordon, she fully intends to marry the two of them. And even after the separation, there is a suggestion that the three of them can still form a life together. Again, it’s a bit hard to absorb.
DIVISION is a fascinating look at what it might be like to be forever physically connected to another human being. It’s also an engaging and poignant story about love and loss, and two brothers struggling to find a way to both live together and apart. The choices we make in life are always hard, and it’s even harder if the choices we make for ourselves also impact another person. This is a heartfelt story that truly touched me. I’m very glad I had the chance to read it.
[Please note: I was provided a copy of this novel for review; the opinions expressed here are my own.]
April 4, 2014
We all know someone who has identical twins, or we've gone to school with twins, or we've seen them in movies and commercials. Those of us lucky enough to actually know twins are well aware that having the same genetic code doesn't automatically mean they think the same way at all. As we go through life, different stimulus can strike us in different ways. Two people (even twins) who see a car accident don't always see what happened the same way. One could have been distracted by a bird flying by or a stray thought at a key moment. Different books they might read generate different ideas and beliefs, and as these paths diverge, individuality emerges.
Johnny and Gordon have a unique problem. Nobody sees them as individuals. They've been together all their lives but as they grew, their personalities drifted further and further apart and now it's time they went their separate ways, but due to circumstances beyond their control and a startling family secret-- they can't.
Johnny is restless; he wants to get out on his own. He's sick of having his brother in his face all the time, and has always been the more emotional and impulsive of the two. He wants to take action and stop talking about it.
Gordon's delighted with the current arrangement. All these years he's had Johnny around to help him. They finished one another's sentences. They always did homework together, played sports together, had the same friends and went, together, through the adversity of the folks who stared and pointed and thought they were weird. They had triumphed over all that adversity. Why change anything?
Now the technology is available to give each his own individual life. Johnny wants this desperately. Gordon doesn't see the point. Brothers can feud, but this is orders of magnitude worse. They must go to court, each defending his right to live as he chooses. Johnny's freedom could quite literally threaten Gordon's life. Gordon's preferred life is slavery by Johnny's standards. Is it even possible to find a fair solution?
This is one of the most thought provoking books I've read. The author puts us not only in the presence of the twins, but into their thought processes and emotional states. She tackles, aside from the issue of technology bringing us places we may not want to go, showing, in clear example, the conflicts that arise when two individuals' separate rights have to be sorted out. Does Johnny have the right to endanger his brother to get what he wants? Should Gordon have to completely restructure his life and sacrifice all he holds dear (and possibly his life) because Johnny wants a different path? Are we our brothers' keeper, or do we owe ourselves freedom?
This is adult material, difficult both from the standpoint of erotica (in the context of the story, not gratuitous, we are after all talking about teenage boys), but also from the standpoint of traditional value systems. It is a frank discussion of what it means to be an individual, of what happens when rights conflict and there seem to be no viable answers. We see the public get wrapped in the conflict, both sides angry and vindictive, and wonder how it can ever be resolved. It challenges our view of both freedom and justice, while letting us share in the lives of some very memorable characters. I highly recommend it.
Johnny and Gordon have a unique problem. Nobody sees them as individuals. They've been together all their lives but as they grew, their personalities drifted further and further apart and now it's time they went their separate ways, but due to circumstances beyond their control and a startling family secret-- they can't.
Johnny is restless; he wants to get out on his own. He's sick of having his brother in his face all the time, and has always been the more emotional and impulsive of the two. He wants to take action and stop talking about it.
Gordon's delighted with the current arrangement. All these years he's had Johnny around to help him. They finished one another's sentences. They always did homework together, played sports together, had the same friends and went, together, through the adversity of the folks who stared and pointed and thought they were weird. They had triumphed over all that adversity. Why change anything?
Now the technology is available to give each his own individual life. Johnny wants this desperately. Gordon doesn't see the point. Brothers can feud, but this is orders of magnitude worse. They must go to court, each defending his right to live as he chooses. Johnny's freedom could quite literally threaten Gordon's life. Gordon's preferred life is slavery by Johnny's standards. Is it even possible to find a fair solution?
This is one of the most thought provoking books I've read. The author puts us not only in the presence of the twins, but into their thought processes and emotional states. She tackles, aside from the issue of technology bringing us places we may not want to go, showing, in clear example, the conflicts that arise when two individuals' separate rights have to be sorted out. Does Johnny have the right to endanger his brother to get what he wants? Should Gordon have to completely restructure his life and sacrifice all he holds dear (and possibly his life) because Johnny wants a different path? Are we our brothers' keeper, or do we owe ourselves freedom?
This is adult material, difficult both from the standpoint of erotica (in the context of the story, not gratuitous, we are after all talking about teenage boys), but also from the standpoint of traditional value systems. It is a frank discussion of what it means to be an individual, of what happens when rights conflict and there seem to be no viable answers. We see the public get wrapped in the conflict, both sides angry and vindictive, and wonder how it can ever be resolved. It challenges our view of both freedom and justice, while letting us share in the lives of some very memorable characters. I highly recommend it.
October 30, 2013
As part of a conjoined twin set, Johnny hasn't given much thought to what life would be like without his beloved brother by his side. Their mother has taught them to value what they have from an early age, a lesson they've learned to keep as time goes by. He knows that people think their existence goes against God's teachings. In their eyes, they're an abomination that shouldn't exist. Yet he refuses to allow the way people see him and his brother to dictate the way he lives his life.
As time goes by, technological advances surface that allow people to change the way they live their lives. Johnny soon comes to the realization that he'd like more out of life. It's not that he doesn't love his brother, he does. He just wants to experience things on his own. Granted, he's spent all of his life sharing a body with Gordon. Yet the thought of moving on his own and doing things for himself are far too alluring.
Determined to gain his freedom, Johnny sets a chain reaction of events into motion that soon changes his life and that of those around him. Though he feels bad about everything, he refuses to give up on the idea of having his own body. Resentment from those he loves follows his every wake, but it does nothing to deter him from his goal. In his mind, he's doing the right thing, and he'll do everything he can to show everyone that he's chosen correctly.
As tensions rise, and their lives grow more hectic by the day, Johnny soon takes into account the circumstances that have led him to where he is now. He knows there's no changing the way things have come to be. He's made a choice, and he'll stand by it, much to his family's chagrin. His brother, Gordon, might not agree with what he's done, but he knows he'll come to see things his way sooner or later. At least, he hopes he will, because nothing's going to change the fact that he'll do his best to achieve his dream of having his own body, once and for all.
Division is one of those books that will capture your attention, and give you food for thought. Karen touches on a subject that's been around for ages, but hasn't been fully explored. What if you had the chance to clone your body in order to survive? Would you take the risk? Or would you live your life the way you were meant to live it?
In this book, Johnny and Gordon are presented with that choice. While many in the story balk at the idea of cloning, Johnny has chosen to go ahead with procedure because it allows him to live a full life in a body of his own. Some may see his doing so as selfish, but I think he chose a way that allowed both him and his brother to know what it's like to have a body of their own in order to lead separate lives. Yes, Gordon was against it in the beginning, but he was soon able to see the good in what his brother set into motion. A bittersweet story, Division is full of many lessons that anyone can relate to. This is definitely one those books you'll want to read time and again. I know I will.
As time goes by, technological advances surface that allow people to change the way they live their lives. Johnny soon comes to the realization that he'd like more out of life. It's not that he doesn't love his brother, he does. He just wants to experience things on his own. Granted, he's spent all of his life sharing a body with Gordon. Yet the thought of moving on his own and doing things for himself are far too alluring.
Determined to gain his freedom, Johnny sets a chain reaction of events into motion that soon changes his life and that of those around him. Though he feels bad about everything, he refuses to give up on the idea of having his own body. Resentment from those he loves follows his every wake, but it does nothing to deter him from his goal. In his mind, he's doing the right thing, and he'll do everything he can to show everyone that he's chosen correctly.
As tensions rise, and their lives grow more hectic by the day, Johnny soon takes into account the circumstances that have led him to where he is now. He knows there's no changing the way things have come to be. He's made a choice, and he'll stand by it, much to his family's chagrin. His brother, Gordon, might not agree with what he's done, but he knows he'll come to see things his way sooner or later. At least, he hopes he will, because nothing's going to change the fact that he'll do his best to achieve his dream of having his own body, once and for all.
Division is one of those books that will capture your attention, and give you food for thought. Karen touches on a subject that's been around for ages, but hasn't been fully explored. What if you had the chance to clone your body in order to survive? Would you take the risk? Or would you live your life the way you were meant to live it?
In this book, Johnny and Gordon are presented with that choice. While many in the story balk at the idea of cloning, Johnny has chosen to go ahead with procedure because it allows him to live a full life in a body of his own. Some may see his doing so as selfish, but I think he chose a way that allowed both him and his brother to know what it's like to have a body of their own in order to lead separate lives. Yes, Gordon was against it in the beginning, but he was soon able to see the good in what his brother set into motion. A bittersweet story, Division is full of many lessons that anyone can relate to. This is definitely one those books you'll want to read time and again. I know I will.
October 30, 2013
Gordon and Johnny are conjoined twins. They have only one body: Gordon controls his head, left hand and left arm, and Johnny controls his head and the right side. Of course, they have had to learn to live together and never expected things to be otherwise. Fortunately, they have a loving and supporting family. Their mother Ellen and their stepfather Frank have done everything they can for the boys. They’ve even shielded the boys from curious people, mostly tourists. The local people are used to them and treat them just like anyone else.
Gordon loves to play the violin and study history while Johnny is more impatient and competitive. But they’ve had to learn to compromise. They’re even dating the girl next door, Dodi, and she dreams of a future with both of them. Gordon is looking forward to that future, sharing everything with his brother but Johnny is a little frustrated because of their limitations. Yet, they are planning what they will study in collage because they have limited time and different interests.
Then one day, they hear about a new treatment method, TTC or Transplant to Clone, for people whose bodies has suffered severe damage. In the treatment, a clone body is grown for the damaged person and then his or her brain is surgically removed and planted into the clone. Almost instantly, Johnny knows that he wants to do just that, so that he would be able to live a normal life. But when Johnny suggests it, Gordon is horrified. He’s happy with their lives and doesn’t want to change it.
For Johnny to get a transplant, he has to go to court and battle his brother. The battle might tear apart the brothers, their family and friends. No matter what the outcome will be, how can they live with it?
Ms. Wyle has again written a very thoughtful and fascinating science fiction book. It explores personal choices which can affect others in a profound way and also what is normal and what’s not. Gordon, Johnny, and the other people feel very realistic to me. They each have their own goals and desires. Even though Johnny loves his brother, he yearns to be free to live his own life in a way that Gordon doesn’t. Dodi has never thought of the possibility that they could be separated. Her parents try to keep her away from the brothers when Dodi and the boys become teenagers.
With the court case, the brothers suddenly become interesting to the media which is a new experience for the family and offers another layer to the story.
The story is set in future but the family isn’t wealthy and so they don’t have significantly different technology than what we have today, except for the TTC, of course.
Gordon loves to play the violin and study history while Johnny is more impatient and competitive. But they’ve had to learn to compromise. They’re even dating the girl next door, Dodi, and she dreams of a future with both of them. Gordon is looking forward to that future, sharing everything with his brother but Johnny is a little frustrated because of their limitations. Yet, they are planning what they will study in collage because they have limited time and different interests.
Then one day, they hear about a new treatment method, TTC or Transplant to Clone, for people whose bodies has suffered severe damage. In the treatment, a clone body is grown for the damaged person and then his or her brain is surgically removed and planted into the clone. Almost instantly, Johnny knows that he wants to do just that, so that he would be able to live a normal life. But when Johnny suggests it, Gordon is horrified. He’s happy with their lives and doesn’t want to change it.
For Johnny to get a transplant, he has to go to court and battle his brother. The battle might tear apart the brothers, their family and friends. No matter what the outcome will be, how can they live with it?
Ms. Wyle has again written a very thoughtful and fascinating science fiction book. It explores personal choices which can affect others in a profound way and also what is normal and what’s not. Gordon, Johnny, and the other people feel very realistic to me. They each have their own goals and desires. Even though Johnny loves his brother, he yearns to be free to live his own life in a way that Gordon doesn’t. Dodi has never thought of the possibility that they could be separated. Her parents try to keep her away from the brothers when Dodi and the boys become teenagers.
With the court case, the brothers suddenly become interesting to the media which is a new experience for the family and offers another layer to the story.
The story is set in future but the family isn’t wealthy and so they don’t have significantly different technology than what we have today, except for the TTC, of course.
February 6, 2014
Note: I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Division is one of the best books I read in 2013, a year in which I read Parasite and We Need to Talk About Kevin. (And the Divergent trilogy, but I didn’t actually like those books, so no competition there.) I liked it so much that I asked author Karen A. Wyle to write a guest post for the blog, which she did last Friday.
I read books to escape and be entertained, like everyone else. But more, I read books to be challenged intellectually, and Division does just that.
This is a story about a pair of conjoined twins. One twin wants to undergo an operation to separate them into two bodies, while the other wants to stay joined. This is set in the near future, where the twins must present their arguments in court because the procedure requires the use of clones and cloning is restricted. The book follows a variety of characters as they cope with the emotional atmosphere up to and after the decision.
I get swept away by books like these that explore what it’s like living in the skin of an unusual, unexpected person. Division puts us into the experiences of a twin who want to be free, showing us what life is like chained to another person. It shows us the struggle the other twin undergoes when he’s–in his mind–rejected by someone closer than a lover could ever be. It even examines how their struggle affects their mother, who’s loved them unconditionally from birth and must watch their relationship fall apart. It follows a girlfriend who believed she would, someday soon, marry two people in one body.
A variety of moral questions are opened without direct treatment, which was skillful and impressive. Should the twins be allowed to leave their body for clones? Should a court have the responsibility to decide the future of their lives? Can there ever be a “right” answer when both of them want something mutually exclusive? Yet the morality was never heavy-handed, but was instead a backdrop for the interesting and subtle character interactions.
This book is one of the beautiful pieces of self-published literature that inspires me. The author, Karen A. Wyle, has published several other books that I’m eager to check out. Not to get on my soapbox again, but meticulous attention to detail-–plot, character, premise, grammar–-is what makes people want to read books. You don’t have to be traditionally published, though you may have to work your bum off twice as hard to get noticed. I heartily recommend this book.
Division is one of the best books I read in 2013, a year in which I read Parasite and We Need to Talk About Kevin. (And the Divergent trilogy, but I didn’t actually like those books, so no competition there.) I liked it so much that I asked author Karen A. Wyle to write a guest post for the blog, which she did last Friday.
I read books to escape and be entertained, like everyone else. But more, I read books to be challenged intellectually, and Division does just that.
This is a story about a pair of conjoined twins. One twin wants to undergo an operation to separate them into two bodies, while the other wants to stay joined. This is set in the near future, where the twins must present their arguments in court because the procedure requires the use of clones and cloning is restricted. The book follows a variety of characters as they cope with the emotional atmosphere up to and after the decision.
I get swept away by books like these that explore what it’s like living in the skin of an unusual, unexpected person. Division puts us into the experiences of a twin who want to be free, showing us what life is like chained to another person. It shows us the struggle the other twin undergoes when he’s–in his mind–rejected by someone closer than a lover could ever be. It even examines how their struggle affects their mother, who’s loved them unconditionally from birth and must watch their relationship fall apart. It follows a girlfriend who believed she would, someday soon, marry two people in one body.
A variety of moral questions are opened without direct treatment, which was skillful and impressive. Should the twins be allowed to leave their body for clones? Should a court have the responsibility to decide the future of their lives? Can there ever be a “right” answer when both of them want something mutually exclusive? Yet the morality was never heavy-handed, but was instead a backdrop for the interesting and subtle character interactions.
This book is one of the beautiful pieces of self-published literature that inspires me. The author, Karen A. Wyle, has published several other books that I’m eager to check out. Not to get on my soapbox again, but meticulous attention to detail-–plot, character, premise, grammar–-is what makes people want to read books. You don’t have to be traditionally published, though you may have to work your bum off twice as hard to get noticed. I heartily recommend this book.
March 23, 2014
One of the things that I love most about sci-fi is its ability to make you ask what if and its ability to make you think long after you've closed the book. "Division" is very much in that vein. Gordon and Johnny are conjoined teenaged twins. When Johnny decides that they want to use new technology to live a separate life, it is not an easy choice for Gordon. On top of that, there are people in the world that will condemn the twins for their choice. Once one of them makes a choice, nothing will ever be the same for either twin.
I enjoyed this book. It is so interesting to think about what I would do in the twin's situation. I love books that make you question ethics. It is hard to know what I would do in that situation but I did like exploring that dilemma with the twins. I really liked how Wyle was able to make the technology in the book feel real. This book doesn't seem like it takes place too far in the future but the author wove in a lot of details to make Johnny and Gordon's world feel real.
The book had nice pacing and kept me reading. I was a little bit confused about one element in the book. The twins grew up with their neighbor, Dodi. Dodi falls in love with both of them and doesn't necessarily want them to separate. What confused me is that although Dodi says she sees them as separate people, she treats them as one unit even after the separation, which results in an interesting situation (I don't want to give anything away) that was not really resolved for me at the end of the book. I wish things were tied up a little more. Can Dodi really love both twins equally? Will there really not be any jealousy between them? That being said, I did still really enjoy this book.
This book would be a good pick for a sci-fi lover who wants something to think about long after they close the book.
I enjoyed this book. It is so interesting to think about what I would do in the twin's situation. I love books that make you question ethics. It is hard to know what I would do in that situation but I did like exploring that dilemma with the twins. I really liked how Wyle was able to make the technology in the book feel real. This book doesn't seem like it takes place too far in the future but the author wove in a lot of details to make Johnny and Gordon's world feel real.
The book had nice pacing and kept me reading. I was a little bit confused about one element in the book. The twins grew up with their neighbor, Dodi. Dodi falls in love with both of them and doesn't necessarily want them to separate. What confused me is that although Dodi says she sees them as separate people, she treats them as one unit even after the separation, which results in an interesting situation (I don't want to give anything away) that was not really resolved for me at the end of the book. I wish things were tied up a little more. Can Dodi really love both twins equally? Will there really not be any jealousy between them? That being said, I did still really enjoy this book.
This book would be a good pick for a sci-fi lover who wants something to think about long after they close the book.
December 30, 2013
Reviewed by Michelle Randall for Readers Favorite
Karen Wyle takes on a unique topic in her new book, Division. It is the story of two brothers, Gordon and Johnny, who are twins, but not your normal twins, they are conjoined. The book starts out following their life as they grow from young children to teens and then to adults. It takes place in a future era where doctors have advanced medicine in a number of ways, and cloning is just one of those advances. The idea of a transplant to clone procedure that could be done to give each twin his own separate life is placed in Johnny's mind one day. This begins a long court battle on who gets to choose what to do, Johnny who want to separate or Gordon who is happy being conjoined.
This is such a unique and complex topic that I wasn't sure how the author, Karen Wyle would handle it in the book, Division. I have to say, she researched and did a good job of learning about conjoined twins and other twins. The personalities displayed by the characters actually remind me of twins I know. The book is well written and very well thought out, the author really gets into the minds of these two different men. Neither side is pushed as being the best choice, arguments for both are presented so balanced that you don't know which way things will happen until they do. I think of it as a part coming-of-age story, because each twin is struggling to find himself in this world, whether it be conjoined or alone. It will appeal to young and old readers alike. Call it science fiction, fantasy, young adult, future or realistic; whatever you want to call it, it is good reading for all.
Karen Wyle takes on a unique topic in her new book, Division. It is the story of two brothers, Gordon and Johnny, who are twins, but not your normal twins, they are conjoined. The book starts out following their life as they grow from young children to teens and then to adults. It takes place in a future era where doctors have advanced medicine in a number of ways, and cloning is just one of those advances. The idea of a transplant to clone procedure that could be done to give each twin his own separate life is placed in Johnny's mind one day. This begins a long court battle on who gets to choose what to do, Johnny who want to separate or Gordon who is happy being conjoined.
This is such a unique and complex topic that I wasn't sure how the author, Karen Wyle would handle it in the book, Division. I have to say, she researched and did a good job of learning about conjoined twins and other twins. The personalities displayed by the characters actually remind me of twins I know. The book is well written and very well thought out, the author really gets into the minds of these two different men. Neither side is pushed as being the best choice, arguments for both are presented so balanced that you don't know which way things will happen until they do. I think of it as a part coming-of-age story, because each twin is struggling to find himself in this world, whether it be conjoined or alone. It will appeal to young and old readers alike. Call it science fiction, fantasy, young adult, future or realistic; whatever you want to call it, it is good reading for all.
October 21, 2013
Like all young brothers, Gordon and Johnny are curious, playful, and full of life. Most of the time they get along well, though they bicker from time to time. After all, they have different personalities: Gordon is reflective and sensitive, while Johnny loves a great adventure. Only one thing sets them apart from other brothers: they are conjoined twins.
The brothers do their best to lead a normal life, and their childhood is a happy one. But when Johnny learns about a cloning procedure that would allow him to live separately from his brother, he fights for that right, causing a rift that seems impossible to heal.
In Division, author Karen A. Wyle explores the limits of individual choice. The action starts slowly, as Wyle details the boys' daily lives, imagining their unique challenges as they grow into manhood. This is important to set the foundation, and readers would be advised to be patient. However, Division picks up steam when the brothers' conflict builds. One can only imagine their torment as they fight, with no opportunity to leave each other to process anger or frustration.
While Division has sci-fi elements, it emphasizes relationships more than the details of the technology. Division has mature themes and is suited to adults. Wyle explores the many possible challenges of conjoined twins, including budding sexuality, with detailed frankness.
As I read the book, I became more and more invested with the characters, and the ending satisfied. Gordon and Johnny will stay with me for some time.
The brothers do their best to lead a normal life, and their childhood is a happy one. But when Johnny learns about a cloning procedure that would allow him to live separately from his brother, he fights for that right, causing a rift that seems impossible to heal.
In Division, author Karen A. Wyle explores the limits of individual choice. The action starts slowly, as Wyle details the boys' daily lives, imagining their unique challenges as they grow into manhood. This is important to set the foundation, and readers would be advised to be patient. However, Division picks up steam when the brothers' conflict builds. One can only imagine their torment as they fight, with no opportunity to leave each other to process anger or frustration.
While Division has sci-fi elements, it emphasizes relationships more than the details of the technology. Division has mature themes and is suited to adults. Wyle explores the many possible challenges of conjoined twins, including budding sexuality, with detailed frankness.
As I read the book, I became more and more invested with the characters, and the ending satisfied. Gordon and Johnny will stay with me for some time.
November 25, 2013
MY REVIEW COPY WAS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR.
Another thought-provoking, ethically-challenging and very enjoyable story from a talented author. I met Karen through an invitation to review her first novel (Twin-Bred - a review of which is also available on here, and another book you will want to pick up), which I also thoroughly enjoyed (it's sequel, Reach, is on my to-read list and the only reason I haven't read it yet is that the birth of my daughter interrupted my reading schedule, teehee). She crafts clever, inventive, unique stories peopled with very human (even when they're not!) characters that are real and flawed and complex in all the best possible ways.
Division is a story of conjoined twins - not a subject I ever gave much thought to, honestly, but one which let her explore the ideas of family and self in ways all to applicable, I think, to all of us. The tale of Johnny and Gordon made me think, rage, cry, blush, and laugh out loud - the full range of emotion is here, with a spin I doubt you've ever considered but which she manages to handle deftly with sensitivity but not sentimentality. The boys' struggle to live individual lives is guaranteed to leave an impression - and to make you think about your own concept of what it means to be you and live your life, limits and opportunities all.
Excellent job Karen. If you aren't familiar with her books I simply can't encourage you enough to pick them up. They aren't like anything else you're reading - in the best possible way.
Another thought-provoking, ethically-challenging and very enjoyable story from a talented author. I met Karen through an invitation to review her first novel (Twin-Bred - a review of which is also available on here, and another book you will want to pick up), which I also thoroughly enjoyed (it's sequel, Reach, is on my to-read list and the only reason I haven't read it yet is that the birth of my daughter interrupted my reading schedule, teehee). She crafts clever, inventive, unique stories peopled with very human (even when they're not!) characters that are real and flawed and complex in all the best possible ways.
Division is a story of conjoined twins - not a subject I ever gave much thought to, honestly, but one which let her explore the ideas of family and self in ways all to applicable, I think, to all of us. The tale of Johnny and Gordon made me think, rage, cry, blush, and laugh out loud - the full range of emotion is here, with a spin I doubt you've ever considered but which she manages to handle deftly with sensitivity but not sentimentality. The boys' struggle to live individual lives is guaranteed to leave an impression - and to make you think about your own concept of what it means to be you and live your life, limits and opportunities all.
Excellent job Karen. If you aren't familiar with her books I simply can't encourage you enough to pick them up. They aren't like anything else you're reading - in the best possible way.
July 5, 2015
I'm doing my undergraduate dissertation on conjoined twins, which was what prompted me to pick up this book in the first place. I was expecting to find a lot of things regarding the ethics of separation surgery which would be useful for my work (and I did, especially the court scenes) but what I found was something so much more. This is a truly touching story, and those who say that the premise of twins conjoined like these two is unrealistic should look up Abby and Brittany Hensel. The main reason I challenge separation surgery in some cases is because, in those cases, the twins end up with a lesser quality of life than they would have had conjoined. Abby and Brittany are examples of this - conjoined, they can walk, drive, run and so on, yet separated they would each be confined to a wheelchair with one arm and one leg each. Separation is ok if the advantages outweigh the disadvantages and vice versa. Yet in this book, we have a case where the separation has few risks of the kind that real life situations would have, and yet we have one twin who wants to go ahead, and one twin who does not. This leads to a whole different ethical problem and one which I have not (thankfully!) had to consider so far, as all living and dead adults who are/were conjoined wish(ed) to remain that way, apart from one case where the twins pursued separation in their thirties and died. For that reason, this book really challenged me, and I love it when books do that. I got so much more out of this book than I thought when I first started it, and I'm very glad that I read it.
February 5, 2016
In the distant future, Johnny and Gordon Blake, conjoined twins, are living a quiet existence with their friends and family. Gordon is perfectly happy with their lives. Johnny is not. When a revolutionary new cloning procedure is invented, allowing persons to safely have their brains transplanted into new bodies, Johnny is eager to get a body of his own so he can live his own independent life. He resorts to legal measures to have himself emancipated from the body he shares with his twin, and threatens to destroy his family’s happiness and security.
While a bit unusual, it’s definitely a great story. I have no idea if the science fiction elements here are valid, but that’s not the novel’s real focus. While the twins’ physical condition may not be something that everyone can relate to (after all, the condition is rare), the story’s implications are definitely universal. Division highlights the struggle between the comforting and confining nature of familial closeness, and the natural adolescent urge for personal space and independence. A YA/crossover novel recommended for Ages 16-Up.
While a bit unusual, it’s definitely a great story. I have no idea if the science fiction elements here are valid, but that’s not the novel’s real focus. While the twins’ physical condition may not be something that everyone can relate to (after all, the condition is rare), the story’s implications are definitely universal. Division highlights the struggle between the comforting and confining nature of familial closeness, and the natural adolescent urge for personal space and independence. A YA/crossover novel recommended for Ages 16-Up.
October 29, 2013
I took a whole day off writing to read this novel; a time I guard jealously. But I’m glad I did. The storyline intrigued me and is one I think we’ll all be hearing more about as the years roll on especially in novel form. Karen has obviously gone to a great deal of time and trouble with this book and it shows. The two main characters, the brothers, are beautifully observed and developed in their differences despite their genetic connection. Their dilemma is one which provoked a lot of thought rather than being something I could just read once and immediately forget. I enjoyed wondering where the book was going and am glad to report that I was wrong about the final ending. My favourite character in the book was the judge. You’ll have to read it to discover why.
Just as important in a market flooded with self published books, I was not forced to cringe half a dozen times on every page because of bad editing or painful grammatical mistakes. All in all a great read and one I would recommend to anyone. Well done to the author.
Just as important in a market flooded with self published books, I was not forced to cringe half a dozen times on every page because of bad editing or painful grammatical mistakes. All in all a great read and one I would recommend to anyone. Well done to the author.
July 20, 2016
'd class this as a futuristic coming of age book. Conjoined twins are leading what for them is a normal life until one of them makes the decision to become separated using the science of cloning. His brother disagrees and there is then a court battle to decide. The twins have to abide by the courts decision.
Some of the science are over my head, but i was still able to grasp the concept of the book. The twins were easy to love and easy to hate. The wonderful descriptions of their interactions made this possible. I enjoyed the book, especially since it was full of surprises. The cover was eye catching and made me want to read the book immediately upon receiving it. I would definitely recommend it to my friends and it is a book I plan to keep.
I received a copy of this booking exchange for this honest review
Some of the science are over my head, but i was still able to grasp the concept of the book. The twins were easy to love and easy to hate. The wonderful descriptions of their interactions made this possible. I enjoyed the book, especially since it was full of surprises. The cover was eye catching and made me want to read the book immediately upon receiving it. I would definitely recommend it to my friends and it is a book I plan to keep.
I received a copy of this booking exchange for this honest review
December 14, 2013
I was given a copy of this book for review and found it an interesting and thought provoking read.
It charts the lives of twins, those joined at birth, two with very different personalities - one who wants a chance of separation, one who'd rather not.
This well written story delves into the very real feelings of how each of the twins value their lives, both with differing opinions about their future existence. Both have convincing arguments and we see the difficulties of the decisions made and the effects.
It is full of emotion and bravery and even sacrifice to some degree...I cannot say more because I don't give spoilers.
A worthwhile read and something to make you think.
It charts the lives of twins, those joined at birth, two with very different personalities - one who wants a chance of separation, one who'd rather not.
This well written story delves into the very real feelings of how each of the twins value their lives, both with differing opinions about their future existence. Both have convincing arguments and we see the difficulties of the decisions made and the effects.
It is full of emotion and bravery and even sacrifice to some degree...I cannot say more because I don't give spoilers.
A worthwhile read and something to make you think.
Read
April 15, 2017(Not rating, because I wrote it.)
April 22, 2014
This is one of those times I wish we were able to give half ratings. 3.5
Full review to come later
Full review to come later
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews